Hat shaping form

ABSTRACT

A hat shaping form includes a plurality of concentric shapes having differing circumferences. According to one exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of concentric shapes are affixed to at least one of the other plurality of concentric shapes in a graduated fashion to allow for the resizing of a fitted cap or hat.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/176,809 titled “Hat Shaping Form,” which provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Hats that are formed of natural cloth, or in some cases synthetic fabrics, are very frequently constructed with cap portions that conform generally to the shape of the human head as well as a relatively stiff bill or brim projecting from at least the forehead area of the hat to serve as a sunshield for the eyes of the wearer and/or as a sun shield for the top of the wearer's head. Hats of this type are widely used in every walk of society. For example, hats constructed in this fashion are utilized for specific purposes such as golf hats, baseball caps, tennis hats, construction hats, and also for general purpose headwear. While some hats of this type are cheaply constructed and are sold as throwaway items, more often than not, a hat of this type represents a more substantial investment for its owner and is intended to be used for years.

More particularly, the type of hats that are more expensive and are intended to last a substantial amount of time are of the fitted type wherein the size of the hat is determined by measuring the circumference of a person's head about ½ inch above the ears and dividing by pi (π). However, measuring the hat size of each individual and then manufacturing a single hat to fit that particular individual's head would be very costly and therefore manufactures have instead chosen to manufacture fitted hats which increase in size by ⅛^(th) inch increments usually ranging from 6½ to 8 or more.

However, a consumer may have the eventual need to either decrease or increase the size of the hat slightly to better conform to the individuals head. Additionally, due to the increment size used by the industry and variations between manufacturers, many individuals will find themselves between hat sizes. The need to change the size of a hat may be caused by the individual changing the length of his or her hair or by received the fitted hat as a gift and the giver having underestimated or overestimated the appropriate hat size of the recipient. Whatever the reason may be, the individual is left with a hat that does not fit his or her head and slight adjustments will have to be made or else the hat will have to be discarded all together. Additionally, environmental impact can, over time, change the size of a hat. Specifically, a number of fitted hats are made of cotton or other natural fibers that tend to shrink when exposed to water and/or heat. Consequently, when such hats are washed or become damp due to environmental conditions, drying of the hat results in shrinkage of the size. This reduction in hat size may cause the user to experience head aches and/or discard the hat all together.

In the past, hat sizes have been either reduced or increased slightly by manipulating the natural properties of the fabric used in the construction of the hat by shrinking or stretching the fibers in the fabric. Because fitted hats are usually made of wool or cotton, this stretching or shrinking can be achieved rather easily but with unintended and unpredictable results. Consequently, a need exists for a system for predictably and reliably adjusting the size of a fitted hat

SUMMARY

A hat shaping form includes a plurality of surfaces having differing circumferences, wherein each surface of the plurality of surfaces are affixed to at least one of the plurality of surfaces in a graduated fashion.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a hat shaping form includes a plurality of surfaces having differing circumferences. According to this exemplary embodiment, each surface of the plurality of surfaces are affixed to at least another one of the plurality of surfaces in a graduated fashion, defining a hollow cavity within the hat shaping form. Each of the plurality of surfaces is a ring defining at least one orifice formed in the surface. When the plurality of surfaces are assembled in a graduated fashion, each concentric ring has a separate diameter corresponding to a conventional hat size. A hooked member is also coupled to a central concentric ring to allow the resulting hat shaping form to be hung during the forming of the hat. Furthermore, each of the concentric rings further includes a lateral surface engagable with an inner surface of a hat, the lateral surface of each of the concentric rings further includes at least one of a plurality of circumferential ridges, bumps, divots, knurling, friction enhancing texture, or non-slip polymer coating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the principles described herein and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary hat shaping form, according to principles described herein.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of an exemplary hat shaping form, according to principles described herein.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an exemplary hat shaping form, according to principles described herein.

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional diagram of an exemplary hat shaping form, according to principles described herein.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an exemplary hook, according to principles described herein.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of altering the size of a fitted hat, according to principles described herein.

FIG. 7 the front elevational view of an exemplary hat shaping form of FIG. 2 with a hat mounted on one of the shaping surfaces, according to principles described herein.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an exemplary hat shaping form having a non-circular cross-section, according to one exemplary embodiment.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There is provided herein a hat shaping form including a body having a plurality of graduated sizing surfaces formed by a number of concentric rings having a different diameter wherein each concentric circle of the number of concentric rings are affixed to at least one of the number of concentric rings in a graduated fashion. For ease of illustration, the present system will be described as being formed with a plurality of concentric rings forming a graduated surface. However, it will be understood that the graduated surfaces used to establish the size of a hat may assume any shape, so long as the outer surface or “circumference” of the surface has a measurement commensurate with the desired incremental hat sizes. Specifically, the outer graduated surface may assume, but in no way limited to, the shape of ovals, ellipses, quadrilaterals, triangles, and the like. Furthermore, the present exemplary system and method is described, for ease of description only, as being formed of concentric circular surfaces. However, the surfaces defining the hat shaping form may be, but are in no way limited to concentric graduating surfaces. Rather, the surfaces may share a common base surface, extending into a series of graduated surfaces. Further details of the various exemplary embodiments will be provided below with reference to the figures.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present systems and methods. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, systems and methods may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “an example” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least that one embodiment, but not necessarily in other embodiments. The various instances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or similar phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary hat shaping form (100), according to one exemplary embodiment. As illustrated, the hat shaping form has a number of concentric rings (105) arranged in graduated fashion. The concentric rings (105) each have their own circumferential measurement, which is preferably different from the other concentric rings (105). As will be described later, the rings (105) are used to either stretch or form a hat which has been mounted on the ring (105) after the hat had been wetted in a solution such as water and allowed to form to a larger diameter ring (105) or shrink to a smaller diameter ring (105).

According to one exemplary embodiment, the concentric rings (105) each have a diameter corresponding to a conventional hat size. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that conventional hat sizes are generally measured in ⅛^(th) inch increments usually staring from 6 and going to 8 or larger. The size of any hat is determined by measuring the circumference of a person's head about ½ inch above the ears and dividing by pi (π). Therefore, a person with a head circumference of 22 inches would divide 22 by pi (π) and come to a closest value of 7. Additional head measurements will give higher or lower values, however, conventional hat sizes are only divided up, as mentioned earlier, by ⅛^(th) inch increments. According to one exemplary embodiment, the concentric rings may assume a higher fidelity, such as 1/16^(th) inch increments, for example, to allow for sizes that are in-between traditional hat sizes and to enable hat adjustments.

Additionally, each concentric ring (105) is attached to a larger diameter ring (105) and/or a smaller diameter ring (105) depending on the specific ring's (105) diameter. For example, a hat shaping form (100) which has as its smallest concentric ring (105) a ring with a diameter value of 6, will then have affixed to its distal end the next larger diameter ring (105) with a value of 6 and ⅛^(th) diameter. Then, the concentric ring with a value of 6 and ⅛^(th) diameter will not only have affixed to its proximal end the concentric ring (105) with a diameter value of 6 but also, to its distal end, the concentric ring (105) with a diameter value of 6 and ¼^(th), thereby resulting in a graduated surface, wherein each horizontal surface corresponds to an increased hat size.

As will be appreciated later, in one exemplary embodiment, the concentric rings (105) are divided into two groups. The first group (110) consists only of ¼ increments, such as 6, 6 and ¼, 6 and ½^(th), 6 and ¾, and so on. However, the second group (115) consists only of those intermediate values consisting of ⅛^(th) increments such as 6 and ⅛^(th), 6 and ⅜^(th), 6 and ⅝^(th), and so on. These two groups (110, 115) are then affixed to each other in such a way so that the largest diameter concentric rings (105) of each group are connected to a central concentric ring (120). This creates a barrel type shaped hat shaping form (100) as illustrated in the figures. Alternatively, a barrel type shaped hat shaping form may be realized by forming graduated surfaces representing traditional full sizes on a first side of the barrel and graduated surfaces representing “in-between” sizes on a second side of the barrel.

Additionally, one exemplary embodiment of the barrel type hat shaping form (100) has affixed to the central concentric ring (120) a hook (125) used to suspend the hat shaping form from an elevated position. As will be appreciated later, this will allow for easy drying and sizing of the hat which has been mounted on the hat shaping form (100).

Turning now to FIG. 2, a front elevational view of an exemplary hat shaping form (100) is shown. As will be appreciated later, it is preferred that each concentric ring (105) have a number of holes (205) or orifices. These holes (205) allow for quicker drying of the hat after it has been wetted by a solution and mounted on the desired ring (105). It will be further appreciated that these holes may be circular holes, oblong holes, elongated slits, or assume any number of cross-sectional shapes to allow air flow and facilitate the drying and subsequent shaping of the hat.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the desired rings (105) includes a hat shaping surface (210) having a width (215). According to one exemplary embodiment, the width (215) of the hat shaping surface (210) is sized to correspond to the inner band of a hat that directly contacts a wearer's head. Specifically, traditional fitted baseball caps include a sized band on the inner surface of the lower circumference that is in intimate contact with the wearer's head. Typically, this band is approximately one inch in height. According to one embodiment, the hat shaping surface (210) is configured to sizeably mate and completely engage the band to maintain full engagement as the hat is sized. According to one exemplary embodiment, additional features may be present on the hat shaping surface to maintain the engagement between the sized band of the hat and the hat shaping surface (210) including, but in no way limited to, circumferential ridges, divots, knurling, friction enhancing texture, non-slip polymer coating, and the like.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a side elevational view of an exemplary hat shaping form (100) is shown. The hat shaping form (100) has affixed to the outside ends of the smallest concentric ring (105, FIG. 2) an endplate (305). This endplate also has a number of holes (310) used to allow for quicker drying of the hat after it has been wetted by a solution and mounted on the desired ring (105). While the endplate (305) is illustrated with a plurality of holes (310), the holes may assume any number of geometric shapes including, but in no way limited to, circular holes, oblong holes, elongated slits, mesh, and the like. Alternatively, according to one exemplary embodiment, the endplate (305) may be removed, resulting in an open cavity on the end of the form.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a front cross-sectional diagram of an exemplary hat shaping form (100) is shown. The hat shaping form (100) can be shaped out of any number of materials including, but in no way limited to, a metal, a ceramic, a composite, wood, plastic, and the like. According to one exemplary embodiment, the present exemplary hat shaping form (100) is made from a non-corrosive plastic by a molding process. According to one exemplary embodiment, the hat shaping form (100) is formed from a single piece of plastic. According to one exemplary embodiment, the exemplary hat shaping form (100) may be manufactured using any number of plastics manufacturing methodologies known in the art including, but in no way limited to, compaction plus sintering, injection molding, reaction injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, extrusion molding, blow molding, rotational molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, laminating, expandable bead molding, foam molding vacuum plug assist molding, pressure plug assist molding, matched molding, and the like. Furthermore, the present exemplary hat shaping form (100) may be made of a non-polymer based material using any number of manufacturing and post manufacturing processes/methods.

Alternatively, each ring of the hat shaping form (100) may be independently made and collapsibly assembled such that when assembled, the rings of the hat shaping form (100) may be nested together to reduce the storage width of the apparatus. However, in order to save space and allow the concentric rings (105) to collapse within each other, each concentric ring (105) has a stop tab (405) used to stop a concentric ring (105) from falling out of a larger concentric ring (105). This is accomplished by having a stop tab (405) formed on the distal and proximal ends of each ring (105) and thereby stopping the individual concentric rings (105) from coming apart from a neighboring concentric ring (105).

Additionally, this can be accomplished by having a graduated interior slope inside each ring with the thicker of the slope closer the to proximal end of the ring.

Still further, this can also be accomplished by implementing a threaded system where neighboring concentric rings (105) can be rotatably fastented into each other.

Turning now to FIG. 5, a side elevational view of an exemplary hook (125) is shown. This hook (125), as discussed earlier, is used to suspend the hat shaping form (100) from an elevated position. Suspending the hat shaping form (100) from an elevated position allows for the hat to dry easier and without touching anything besides the hat shaping form (100). If the hat were allowed to dry while touching something else a crease or deformation might be formed in the hat and when the hat is totally dry may make the hat look deformed.

Turning now to FIG. 6, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of altering the size of a fitted hat is shown. The first step (600) is to wet the hat with a solution. This solution can be water or any other solution that will allow the natural or man-made fibers to be altered either by stretching or shrinking. The next step (605) is for the user to determine if he or she needs to shrink or stretch the current diameter of the hat. Here, the user will mount (step 610 a, 610 b) the wetted hat on the hat shaping form (100) according to that desire. For example, if the user has found that the current diameter of the hat is too small, he or she would wet the hat (step 600) and then decide (step 605) to mount (step 610 b) the hat on a larger sized concentric ring (105). The user would then allow the hat to dry completely (step 615). If the user then determines that the diameter of the hat is too large or too small (step 620), then he or she would repeat steps 600 to 615 until the desired hat diameter is achieved.

Turning finally to FIG. 7, a front elevational view of an exemplary hat shaping form of FIG. 2 with a hat (700) mounted on one of the concentric rings is shown. Here the hat (700) has been placed on one of the graduated concentric rings (105, FIG. 2) of the hat shaping form (100). The wetted hat (700) is allowed to dry being suspended from an elevated position by the hook (125). After the hat (700) has dried, the user can again determine if the diameter of the hat is appropriate (step, 620, FIG. 6), and the exemplary method can then be repeated as necessary.

Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 7, each of the graduated concentric rings (105, FIG. 2) forming a portion of the exemplary hat shaping form includes a non-slip surface (710). As mentioned above, the non-slip surface (710) formed on the surface of the graduated concentric rings (105, FIG. 2) is configured to maintain the engagement between the internal sized band of the hat that contacts a user's head and the hat shaping surface (210) configured to size the hat. The exemplary non-slip surface (710) formed on the surface of the graduated concentric rings (105, FIG. 2) can include, but is in no way limited to, circumferential ridges, divots, knurling, friction enhancing texture, non-slip polymer coating, and the like.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 8 is a side view of an exemplary hat shaping form (800) according to an alternative embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the graduated surfaces (805) are not circular, nor are they concentric. Rather, as illustrated in FIG. 8, non-circular graduated surfaces (805) are formed and arranged in a stepped fashion having a common bottom datum (810). As illustrated, the oval shaped graduated surfaces (805) are not concentric. However, similar to the exemplary embodiments detailed above, the outer measurement of the graduated surfaces (805) each have a diameter corresponding to a conventional hat size. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the alternative exemplary configuration also includes a plurality of holes (310) used to allow for quicker drying of the hat after it has been wetted by a solution and mounted on the desired graduated surface (805).

In conclusion, as mentioned above, the present exemplary system and method provide for the selective sizing of a fitted hat to provide ideal sizing thereof. Specifically, the present exemplary system includes a hat shaping apparatus that includes a plurality of graduated surfaces that can be used to selectively size a fitted cap to a user's desired specifications. This feature allows for the shaping and fitting of hats for people that grow out of their hats, have a change in head size, modify their hair style, or have a head that is sized between traditional hat sizes.

The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe embodiments and examples of the principles described. This description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit these principles to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. 

1. A hat shaping form comprising: a plurality of surfaces having differing circumferences; wherein each surface of the plurality of surfaces are affixed to at least another one of the plurality of surfaces in a graduated fashion.
 2. The hat shaping form of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of surfaces comprises a ring defining at least one orifice formed in said surface.
 3. The hat shaping form of claim 2, wherein the plurality of surfaces assembled in a graduated fashion further comprises a plurality of concentric rings formed in a graduated fashion, wherein each concentric ring has a separate diameter corresponding to a conventional hat size.
 4. The hat shaping form of claim 3, wherein the plurality of concentric rings having a diameter corresponding to conventional hat sizes are divided into a first group of concentric rings having diameter increments of ¼ of an inch and a second group of concentric rings having intermediate diameter increments of ⅛ of an inch.
 5. The hat shaping form of claim 4, wherein the concentric circle having the largest diameter within the first group of concentric rings and the concentric circle having the largest diameter within the second group of concentric rings are affixed to a central concentric ring to form a barrel.
 6. The hat shaping form of claim 5, further comprising a hooked member coupled to said central concentric ring.
 7. The hat shaping form of claim 3, wherein the plurality of concentric rings are collapsible.
 8. The hat shaping form of claim 3, further comprising at least one endplate affixed to at least one of said of concentric circles.
 9. The hat shaping form of claim 8, wherein each of the at least one endplates defines at least one orifice.
 10. The hat shaping form of claim 3, wherein each of said concentric rings further comprises a lateral surface engagable with an inner surface of a hat.
 11. The hat shaping form of claim 10, wherein said lateral surface of each of said concentric rings further comprises at least one of a plurality of circumferential ridges, bumps, divots, knurling, friction enhancing texture, or non-slip polymer coating.
 12. The hat shaping form of claim 10, wherein each of said lateral surfaces are approximately 1 inch in width.
 13. A method of shaping a hat comprising the steps of: wetting a hat with a solution; mounting the hat on at least one of a number of concentric rings; wherein the each concentric circle of the number of concentric rings are affixed to at least one of the number of concentric rings in a graduated fashion; and allowing the wetted hat to dry.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein increasing the size of the hat further comprises the steps of repeatedly wetting the hat with a solution, mounting the hat on a larger diameter ring, and allowing the wetted hat to dry until the desired diameter of the hat is obtained.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein decreasing the size of the hat further comprises the steps of repeatedly wetting a hat with a solution, mounting the hat on a smaller diameter ring, and allowing the wetted hat to dry until the desired diameter of the hat is obtained.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of concentric rings each has a separate diameter corresponding to conventional hat sizes.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the number of concentric rings having a diameter corresponding to conventional hat sizes are divided into a first group of concentric rings having diameter increments of ¼ of an inch and a second group of concentric rings having intermediate diameter increments of ⅛ of an inch.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the concentric circle having the largest diameter within the first group of concentric rings and the concentric circle having the largest diameter within the second group of concentric rings are affixed to a central concentric ring to form a barrel.
 19. A hat shaping form comprising: a plurality of surfaces having differing circumferences; wherein each surface of the plurality of surfaces are affixed to at least one of the plurality of surfaces in a graduated fashion, defining a hollow cavity within said hat shaping form; wherein each of said plurality of surfaces comprises a ring defining at least one orifice formed in said surface; wherein the plurality of surfaces assembled in a graduated fashion further comprises a plurality of concentric rings formed in a graduated fashion, wherein each concentric ring has a separate diameter corresponding to a conventional hat size; wherein the plurality of concentric rings having a diameter corresponding to conventional hat sizes are divided into a first group of concentric rings having diameter increments of ¼ of an inch and a second group of concentric rings having intermediate diameter increments of ⅛ of an inch; wherein the concentric circle having the largest diameter within the first group of concentric rings and the concentric circle having the largest diameter within the second group of concentric rings are affixed to a central concentric ring to form a barrel; a hooked member coupled to said central concentric ring. further comprising at least one endplate affixed to at least one of said of concentric circles, wherein each of the at least one endplates defines at least one orifice; wherein each of said concentric rings further comprises a lateral surface engagable with an inner surface of a hat, said lateral surface of each of said concentric rings further comprises at least one of a plurality of circumferential ridges, bumps, divots, knurling, friction enhancing texture, or non-slip polymer coating. 